St. Kitts and Nevis Gets Its Second Female Resident Judge by Glen Bart

The St. Kitts circuit of the judiciary now has a new resident judge in Her Ladyship, Hon. Justice Marlene Carter. Justice Carter was sworn-in June 30, at Government House, by His Excellency Governor General Sir Edmund Lawrence. On July 1, members of the Bar Association welcomed the new resident judge in a special sitting of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in Basseterre. For the first time, there are two female judges presiding over civil and criminal cases in St. Kitts and Nevis at the same time, which several attorneys attributed to the continuing progress and development in the legal systems of the Caribbean. Also present and sitting on the Bench were outgoing St. Kitts resident judge His Lordship, Hon. Justice Darshan Ramdhani, and the sitting judge of the Nevis circuit, Her Ladyship, Hon. Justice Lorraine Williams. In his presentation to members of the judiciary, Justice Ramdhani outlined the ‘tremendous experience’that Justice Carter brings to the St. Kitts and Nevis circuits. He pointed to her expansive career in public and private practice, in civil and criminal matters, in administration and legislative initiatives, and her Caribbean wide career experience. In welcoming the new resident judge, members of the Bar Association expressed the view that she was entering a jurisdiction that was challenging, interesting and supportive of the administration of justice and the rule of law. Justice Carter expressed appreciation for the warm welcome. She indicated that she believes that the jurisdiction has many committed lawyers, and pledged her impartiality and objectivity. She said, “It’s a humble privilege to serve the people of St. Kitts.”Among the attorneys addressing the occasion were Mr. Charles Wilkin, Q.C., president of the St. Kitts-Nevis Bar Association and Mr. Tapley Seaton, Q.C., the immediate past president of the OECS Bar Association. Representing the Governments Legal Affairs Office were Solicitor General Mrs. Simone Bullen-Thompson and Director of Public Prosecutions Mr. Travers Sinanan. Members of the Bar also thanked Justice Ramdhani for what many described as his excellent discharge of his duties and wished him well.